1. F ULL -D AY K INDERGARTEN IN THE C HESHIRE PUBLIC SCHOOLS : T HE P ROPOSAL Overview and Summary Information for Parents January 28, 2014 Greg Florio, Superintendent of Schools Scott Detrick, Assistant Superintendent Ann Donnery, Principal, Darcey School

2. T IMELINE November 2012 Click HereClick Here - Why Full Day Kindergarten? Presentation Click HereClick Here - Board of Education Curriculum Committee Meeting Presentation March 2013 Click HereClick Here - Board of Education Curriculum Committee Meeting - Kindergarten Survey Results April 2013 Kindergarten Feasibility Task Force was formed May 2013 Click HereClick Here - Kindergarten Feasibility Task Force Meeting - Session 1 June 2013 Click HereClick Here - Kindergarten Feasibility Task Force Meeting - Session 2 August 2014 Kindergarten Feasibility Task Force Meeting - Session 3 September 2013 Click HereClick Here - Full-Day Kindergarten Informational Flyer Distribution Click HereClick Here - Kindergarten Feasibility Task Force Meeting PowerPoint Presentation - September 17, 2013 – Session 4 October 2013 Presentation to the BOE Curriculum Committee/Planning Committee Kindergarten Feasibility Task Force Meeting Debriefing Process – Final Session (5) November 2013 Board of Education Votes to Include FDK Proposal in Superintendent’s Budget

3. F ULL D AY K INDERGARTEN F EASIBILITY T ASK F ORCE M EMBERS Courtney Barber-Devine, Parent Deborah Burns, K – 8 Curriculum Coordinator Scott Detrick, Assistant Superintendent Ann Donnery, Principal Darcey School Lynn Glynn, Kindergarten Teacher Lynn Goldaper, Kindergarten Teacher Jill Hale, Parent Cathy Hellreich, Board of Education Member Russ Hinckley, Principal Chapman School Kelly Lenz, School Community Coordinator Jeff Natale, Parent Kristen Pannone, Parent Kathy Rahn, Teacher Elissa Tessier, Parent

4. T IMELINE November 2012 Click HereClick Here - Why Full Day Kindergarten? Presentation Click HereClick Here - Board of Education Curriculum Committee Meeting Presentation March 2013 Click HereClick Here - Board of Education Curriculum Committee Meeting - Kindergarten Survey Results April 2013 Kindergarten Feasibility Task Force was formed May 2013 Click HereClick Here - Kindergarten Feasibility Task Force Meeting - Session 1 June 2013 Click HereClick Here - Kindergarten Feasibility Task Force Meeting - Session 2 August 2014 Kindergarten Feasibility Task Force Meeting - Session 3 September 2013 Click HereClick Here - Full-Day Kindergarten Informational Flyer Distribution Click HereClick Here - Kindergarten Feasibility Task Force Meeting PowerPoint Presentation - September 17, 2013 – Session 4 October 2013 Presentation to the BOE Curriculum Committee/Planning Committee Kindergarten Feasibility Task Force Meeting Debriefing Process – Final Session (5) November 2013 Board of Education Votes to Include FDK Proposal in Superintendent’s Budget

5. T IMELINE C ONTINUED The Superintendent presented a budget to members of the Board of Education on January 2, 2014 that included Full-Day Kindergarten The Cheshire Board of Education Finance Committee reviewed budget requests at several meetings in January 2014 and recommended a budget to the full board that included FDK. On January 16, 2014, the Board of Education approved a budget that included FDK. The budget was forwarded to the Town Manager.

6. T HE P ROCESS M OVING F ORWARD Town Council Reviews the BOE Budget (All Town Budgets) - March/April 2014 (Tentative Date) March 13 or 17 at 6:30 p.m. – The Town Council plans to review the education budget Town Council Holds a Public Hearing on the Budget (TBD) – April 2014 Town Council Establishes the Funding Level for the BOE - May 2014 BOE Decides Final Budget Allocations Based on Funding Level Established by the Town Council – May/June 2014

7. C ONNECTICUT AND F ULL -D AY K INDERGARTEN – A S OF O CT. 2012 103 school districts; 7 Charter Schools and 11 Magnet Schools provide full-day kindergarten to all children.* 74% of Connecticut kindergarteners are in full-time programs.* 40% more districts offer full-day K than five years ago.* DRG B – Brookfield, Fairfield, Glastonbury, Granby, Greenwich, Madison, New Fairfield, Orange, Simsbury, Trumbull, West Hartford, Woodbridge * October 1, 2012 SDE Kindergarten Enrollment

8. W HY F ULL -D AY K INDERGARTEN ? The learning process takes time. Kindergarten is a critical year for all children – a year of transition from preschool programs or home to their first formal schooling. It marks the start of a child’s long-term K-12 experience in our schools. Allows for longer blocks of uninterrupted instructional time. Offers more time to progress though a curriculum that has changed and increased as evidenced by mandates such as the Common Core State Standards. Enhances opportunity to provide a better balance of active and quiet periods to support a developmentally appropriate environment for learning. More opportunities to spend time engaged in active, child-initiated activities. Supports individualized pacing and workshop approach. Curriculum/instructional improvement efforts will be more closely aligned with other grades. Emphasizes the process required to reach mastery of standard. Offers more opportunities to build stronger relationships- teachers with students, teachers and parents, student to student. Deeper and more thorough exploration of concepts. More differentiation of instruction.

9.  Arrival and Morning Routines (10 min)  Morning Meeting (20 min)  Readers workshop: mini-lesson, independent read, buddy read, differentiated focus centers/small group instruction, individual conferencing and end of workshop reflection/share. (40 – 60 min)  Special Subject Area (Art, Music, Physical Education, Library/Media) (40 min)  Writers workshop: mini-lesson, conferencing and end of workshop reflection/share (40 – 60 min)  Lunch and Recess (60 min)  Math Centers including daily mini-lesson (50 – 60 min)  Science/Social Studies/Health (30 min)  Developmental Play Centers (40 min – 60 min)  Closing Routines and Meeting (15 min) E XAMPLE OF A F ULL -D AY K INDERGARTEN P ROGRAM

10. F EASIBILITY S TUDY Reorganization Space Factors Reconfiguring Space Factors Additional OptionsCost Factors

11. F ULL -D AY K INDERGARTEN P LAN FOR CPS FOR SCHOOL YEAR 2014 – 2015 Norton District – Kindergarten students would attend Norton School Chapman District – Kindergarten students would attend Chapman School Highland District – Kindergarten students would attend either Highland School or Darcey School based on home location Doolittle District – Kindergarten students would attend Darcey School

12. R ECOMMENDED O PTION – 2014 – 2015 UPDATED 1/21/14 Capacity 1- 6 Need K Total Norton (25)22 2/ 3 24/ 25 Doolittle (30)28 0 28 at Darcey (5) 4/ 55 Highland (44)38 4 42 at Darcey (4)44 Chapman (19)17 2_ 19__ Total (127)105 16 /18 123

14. THE FDK P LAN WITH F LEXIBILITY Flexible Kindergarten Location Determination: We need flexibility in determining kindergarten location based on registrations due to fluctuating enrollment. Each year the district will review kindergarten registrations based on existing school district lines and determine kindergarten location by matching enrollment with space availability. We would make every effort to honor the home school concept with Darcey School being available to all schools based on space needs.

15. S CHOOL I NFORMATION ( T ENTATIVE T IMES ) Darcey School – Principal Ann Donnery School Start and Ending Times 8:50 a.m. – 3:20 p.m. (LATE) Highland School – Principal Beverly Scully Norton School – Principal Mary Karas School Start and Ending Times 8:50 am. – 3:20 p.m. (LATE) Doolittle School – Principal Russ Hinckley Chapman School – Principal Marlene Silano School Start and Ending Times 8:05 a.m. – 2:35 p.m. (EARLY)

16. R EGISTRATION PROCESS In December, pre-registration information and a welcome letter from Dr. Greg Florio and Ann Donnery were mailed to Day Care centers with age eligible students. Beginning in the middle of January, registration packets are being sent to parents who submitted pre- registration information. This packet includes a letter highlighting the registration process scheduled for February 26 and March 3, 2014. February 26 and March 3 from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. – Kindergarten registration will take place at Darcey School by first initial of last name. During this process, we plan to ask about your preference for a ½ day program option.

17. ½ DAY OPTION We plan to offer parents the option of a ½ day program for their child. The program would be held in the AM and students attending ½ day kindergarten would be integrated within an existing full day kindergarten classroom. Transportation home at the end of the ½ program ( ending times will be different by school depending on start time ) will be the responsibility of the parent.

18. W HEN WILL I KNOW WHERE MY CHILD WILL GO TO KINDERGARTEN FOR THE 2014 – 2015 SCHOOL YEAR ? If FDK is a NO - By June 2014 Your child will attend Darcey School. In August, you will receive information about the teacher assignment, AM/PM session information, and orientation process. (Anticipated) Start of School – Thursday, August 29

19. W HEN WILL I KNOW WHERE MY CHILD WILL GO TO KINDERGARTEN FOR THE 2014 – 2015 SCHOOL YEAR ? If FDK is a YES - by July 2014 June/July 2014 – Elementary Principals/Darcey Principal will send a welcome letter with Orientation/School Opening Information August 2014 – Teacher assignments are made/letter mailed home August 2014 –Kindergarten Orientation Sessions will be held at each building for parents and new K students (estimated: week of August 18 – 22) (Anticipated) Start of School – Thursday, August 29

20. W E C ONTINUE TO P LAN FOR FDK Currently, we have a FDK subcommittee comprised of building/district administrators as well as transportation, maintenance, management, and school lunch personnel to plan for Full Day Kindergarten in Cheshire for the 2014 – 2015 school year. This FDK subcommittee meets regularly to plan, discuss, and develop actions to ensure that we are ready for implementation next school year.

21. F OR M ORE I NFORMATION …

22. M ORE I NFORMATION If you would like more information as we go forward you can: Access our website at: http://www.cheshire.k12.ct.us/district- departments/curriculum--instruction/full-day- kindergarten-feasibility-task-force http://www.cheshire.k12.ct.us/district- departments/curriculum--instruction/full-day- kindergarten-feasibility-task-force Take an information sheet about the FDK Facebook Page and/or sign up for the FDK Email Service provided by interested parents.

23. Q UESTIONS